THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE DIFFICULTY INHERENT IN TRYING TO LINK INPUT PRODUCTIVITY - OPTIMAL USE OF RESOURCES WITH RESPECT TO A STATED LIST OF POLICE ACTIVITIES - WITH OUTPUT PRODUCTIVITY - THE PROVIDING OF ADEQUATE SERVICES AND CRIME CONTROL. NUMEROUS FACTORS, LARGELY POLITICAL IN CHARACTER, WHICH ARE SAID TO HAVE CHANGED THE PERSPECTIVES OF MANY MAYORS AND CITY MANAGERS DURING THE LAST 10 YEARS ARE EXPLORED. THE AUTHOR SPECULATES ON PROSPECTS FOR THE NEXT DECADE, IN WHICH HE FEELS IT LIKELY THAT THE PREOCCUPATION WITH POLICE PRODUCTIVITY WILL EITHER STIMULATE INTRODUCTION OF IMPORTANT NEW MANAGEMENT TOOLS, OR THAT IT WILL COLLAPSE IN A WAVE OF PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL DISILLUSIONMENT.